FC Hamburger or simply Hamburg appeared in September, 1887 as a result of two teams’ merge, Wandsbek-Marienthaler and Hohenfelder. Its modern name was set up in 1919 after the merge of 3 city clubs losing the grip after World War 1. The football team plays in red-white kits dedicated to the city of Hamburg. Hamburg is one of the oldest clubs in Germany, but many clubs try to dispute that pleading to the fact that there wasn’t any football group in the year of the club’s foundation.
In 1922 the team became highly competitive in the country. It played the national championship final against Nurnberg, a favorite and a two-time champion of Germany. That was a tough match that lasted more than 3 hours and was suspended because of darkness at the point of 2-2 score. The replay didn’t help to identify a winner either as in additional time with a score of 1-1 the Nurnberg side was reduced to 7 players and the victory was conferred technically to Hamburger. In the name of honest sport competition spirit though the Hamburg side had to refuse to claim the win and the trophy did not go to any club.
The following year though Hamburger pulled back the justice and clinched the title after the final battle against Union. In 1924 the team conceded the champion’s title to their fellow-rival Nurnberg but in four years regained the trophy. The club was an absolute leader in Oberliga. 15 times they were in the title race and only in 1953/1954 season finished 11th. In 1951, 1955, 1961, 1962 Hamburger scored more than 100 goals a season but that helped them to win the tournament only in 1960.
Hamburger participated in the very first Bundesliga tournament and it’s been the only club which has taken part in all of them. In 1960s Uwe Seeler was a leader of the team and in 1964 he became the best scorer in Bundesliga (30 goals for a season). Playing for Hamburger, Uwe was named the best German player three times. In 1972 Seeler resigned being devoted to his native club.
Hamburger achieved great results in 1970s under the management of Gunter Netzer who united Franz Beckenbauer, Felix Magath, Memering Caspar and Kevin Keegan in one team. From 1978 to 1984 the club became a three-time German champion and won silver medals three times. In 1987 Hamburger was a runner-up again and clinched the German Cup. At those golden years Hamburger was a prominent power on European arena as well. In 1983 they won the European Cup and were the finalists of the European Cup Winners’ Cup of 1977 and the UEFA Cup of 1982.
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